Resilient wheel.



' S HIPKINS. RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1911.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. HIPKIN'S..

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1911 Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

2 SHEETSS HEET 2.

\MTNESSES:

plicit-y.

PATEN FICE.

STEPHEN HIPKINS, OF MARTINS FERRY, OHIO.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Application filed August 30, 1911. Serial No. 646,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN Hirnnrs, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Martins Ferry, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient l/Vheels, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention relates broadly to wheels, and specifically to a resilient wheel for vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a strong and durable wheel for vehicles whereby road shocks will be efl'ectively absorbed and to a considerable extent pre vented from being communicated to the vehicle supported on such wheels.

A further object is to provide a wheel wherein a maximum amount of resiliency is attained with but slight sacrifice in-simlVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, arrangement of elements and combinations of parts which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, 'forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the invention partly in section and partly in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line '22. Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3, Fig.

1; Fig. 4 is a view of a spring segment partly in section and partly in side elevation; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a segment formed of rubber or like flexible material; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly in broken section, of an equalizing lever; and Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing modifications wherein spokes are employed.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views 1 indicates a circular plate or disk formed integral and concentric with aQiul) 2 adapted to be received on. the spindle of'a vehicle-axle. A flanged rim 3 is formed on the periphery of said disk 1. Fitted against the opposite faces of said disk 1 are plates 6 and 7 of greater diameter than the said disk, both having their inner faces offset to receive the rim 3 of said disk. Formed on the inner face of the plate 6 adjacent to its edge is e an integral circular flange 8 against the edge of y hichlthe plate 7 seats and through which securing a ts, 9 are directed at intervals for binding said plates together in fixed relation, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. Each of the plates 6 located hole therein through which the hub 2 projects, the diameter of said holes being considerably greater than that of said hub, spaces bein thus provided for the reception of a suitab e soft or pliable packing 10.

Intel-posed between the rim 3 of the disk 1 and the flange 8 is a plurality of yieldable segments, designated enerally by the numeral 11. 'lVhilt: 831C? segments may be of rubber or like pliable, yielding material, as shown in Fig 1 ,1 prefer to employ a' plurality of small coil springs 12 in the constructionbf each segment, as shown in Figs. fl and 4. In the preferred embodiment the Segment comprises two arcuately curved metal plates 13 and 14 adapted respectively to rest against said rim 3 and said flange 8. ()ppositely disposed studs 13 and 14 project from said metal plates and are adapted to receive thereon the opposite ends of said springs. 1 As a means of preventing creeping of said plates with respect to each other, one or more tubular sleeves 15 are projected from one of said plates toward the other and receives therein a pin or stud 16 projected from theother of said plates. For preventing the plates from being accidentally disconnected and the springs from dropping out whenthe segments are being handled, a hole 16 is provided in the stud and a registering hole or slot 15 is provided in the sleeve for the reception of a pin 1.? for interlocking the parts. When the segment is mounted in position, said pins 17 are withdrawn to allow the parts to operate against the tension of the springs.

As is obvious, when the wheel is in use, the tile 18, which is carried on the peripheries of the plates 6 and 7 inany appropriate manner, supports said wheel; and, since said plates are more or less. freely movable with respect to the hub 2 and disk 1, the weight of and T has a centrallv the latter and the weight of the vehicle sustamed by said hub is successively borne by the yieldablc segments as the wheel rotates. Auxiliary to said yieldable segments 11 is a plurality of radially disposed flexible levers. termed equalizing levers, designated gener ally by the numeral 19, said levers being disposed between adjacent ends of the segments 11, as shown in Fig, 1, and being designed primarily to admit of radial move ment of the disk with respect to the plates annular extension "serve as the snpports for the Weight of the While j 'a'eveifing rotary innyeinent of said -oit' the body of the lever 15.), induced by a disk, While in the lath-r ('tlrt ihe spoke A A jointof have their inner ends bolted to the hub and substantially oall-and-socket type is had between each equalizing lever and the flange 8, the latter having socket ed inwardly directed extensions 20 located at points between the spaces 21. in which the segments 11 are received. The substantially circular head 22 of a lever 19 is mounted in the socket 23 of anenicnsion 20, and the body of said lever oitends radialiy into an opening 2-1; of sub stantially diamondshape provided in the disk It. The inner end oi" the body of said lever is bifurcated anddias pivotally moanied in the bifurcation one end of a rocker member 25 which normally stands in. alineinent With said body. Said member has formed integral therewith on its inner end an inwardly projecting arm 26 upon' which is received one end of a coil spring 27 Whose opposite end rests against the body of the disk at the innermostergtremity of the opening 2 fl'pnositely directdd lateral arms28 also carried by said member 25, have'received thereon the ends of coil springs 29; Whose opposite ends test against the body of thedisk laterally of said opening 2 'As'is obvious, a slight rocking movement disk with resncct to said plates.

or non-resilient, the parking 10 may he removed and one or'nmre solid disk washers slipped into the space occupied by the packing. H

"ilhile l have described my in Vcntion more c less in detaih it is apparent: that various mechanic and within thescope of the appended claims may be resorted to Without departing from the general spirit or scope of the invention; hence I do not desire to be understood as limiting-myself to the Lee'- cise construciion and arrangement of parts herein shown and described. I y I Having thus describednry invention. what. like movement of the disk 1, is permitted by the construction described, said lever having a substantially pi otal movement in the socketalsm a former rocking movement oil the weat er Q5 i had at the pivotal connection of the latter with the body or. the lever 19. 0 Means is provided for limiting the range of movement of the disk 1 with respect to the plates 6 and i, said means comprising a plurality of bolts 30 directed through said parts and having nuts 31 threaded upon their projecting ends against the outeriaces of said plates; is most clearly shown in Fig. 3. Said bolts are firmly seated in said plates, and cacheprefcrably has an integral interme ate its ends whichilies between said plates in hole provided. therefor in said disk, said hole having a considerably greater diamcter than that of said c ti'ension 32.

In practice, the springs 12 ofthe seganents-ll and the springs of the levers l9 ters Patent, 1sa.

l. A resilient wheel comprising ahnb, a circular disk infiXed relation to and concentrio with said hub and having radially disposed openings therein, a 'flanged rim formed on the periphery of, said disk, cir- (cular plates seated against, the opposite faces of said disk and normally concentric With the latter, said plates having their adjacent? faces oflset for the reception of said flanged rim, laterally directed flange arried'byone of said plates adjacent as the periphery thereof and against which the opposite plate seats, said flange having soclo cts therein, a plurality of interposed between said flange and the rim of said disk, a equalizing levers each of which comprises a pair of normally alined pivotally connected members, the outer member having a head seated in one of said'sockets and entending into one of the openings in the disk,

and springs disposed on three sides of the act to. ab-

a limited at said disk vehicle borne by the disk ii, and other of said members. sorb, the shocks oi the road, amount of radial n'iovement circular "dislcconcentric with and in fixed.

with respect to the plates being: permitted. relation. to said hub and having snbstan- In wheels-i oi iin'gcsize spokes felmay be tially diamondshapcd vradial openings eniployeih it desired. The spokes may be therein, circular plates mounted on oppoieries of the folly 35, shown in ig. 6, or they may be] disposed between the hub and the disk if, shown in Fig. 7. formed on the periphery of one of said In the former e: se the spokes constitute a plates and having sockets on its inner face, more radial continuation or extension oi: the i disposed between the perip sit-e sides of Jlatee and a wheel edges projected outward beyond theperiphery oil said disk, a laterally directed flange said flange being connected to the' opposite become desirable to render the wheel solid hanges or alterations Within the skill of a I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lee yieldableseglnehts plurality of radiall i directed A resilient Wheel comprising a hub, a

d disk and having their their outer tends bolted to the inner edge of plate whereby the plates are rendered jointly movable with respect to said disk, means for limiting the range of radial movement of said plates with respect to said disk, yieldable means for cushioning the force of such movement; and auxiliary cushioning means embodying levers having their outer ends pivotally mounted in said sockets and extending into. said radial openings, a spring in alinement with each lever and interposed between the inner end of the latter and a Wall defining the end of the opening in the disk, and springs disposed between the opposite sides of the lever and the adjacent walls of the disk.

3. A resilient wheel comprising a hub, a circular disk concentric with and in fixed relation to saidhub an'd having radial open- "ings therein, circularplates mounted on opposite sides of said disk and having their edges projected outward beyond the peripherv of said disk, a flan e formed on one range of radial movement of said plateswith respect to said disk, a pluralit of segments embodying springs arrange to cushion such movement, and a plurality of radially disposed equalizing levers extending into said radial operings and arranged as auxiliary; cushions between said plates and said disk, each lever comprising a member having its outer end. pivotally held by said flange, a rocker pivoted to the inner end of said member, and springs interposed between said rocker and the adjacent Walls defining the opening of th'edisk.

In testimpny whereof I attix my signature in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

, STEPHEN HIPKINS. Witnesses H. E; DUNLAP, BRUCE Morons. 

